This invention relates generally to an electrical power distribution center and more particularly to method and apparatus for distributing electrical power in a vehicle.
The first motorized vehicles had little in the way of an electrical system. All that was required was some way to generate and distribute an ignition potential to each of the cylinders of the small, internal combustion engine that powered these early vehicles. The need to see the road ahead during nighttime operation gave rise to the first electrical accessory: headlights. Interior illumination was added for the operator's convenience, and a single tail light was considered adequate. Turn signal lights followed, but the simple vehicle radio receiver did not make its appearance until a number of years later. The modern automobile is an impressive collection of electrical hardware: from stereo sound equipment to air conditioning; from power windows, mirrors and seats to keyless entry systems; from vehicle alarms to seat position memory to electrically heated seats. The complexity of vehicle electrical systems has grown almost exponentially since the automobile's introduction.
An automotive electrical system is a formidable combination of high-current and low-current circuitry. In many cases, relays are required for control purposes, and all circuits must be adequately fused to protect expensive components and to guard against the danger of fire. In order to facilitate the replacement of fuses and relays, and to simplify interconnection of electrical hardware, many different electric power distribution systems have been tried.
One approach that has been tried with fair consistency is to centralize the mounting of fuses and relays and then route input and output connections from this central location. The first systems built using this approach included a great deal of point-to-point wiring. Hand wiring is very costly, and manual wiring operations are a source of wiring errors that negatively impact product quality. Another approach has been the construction of customized distribution networks stamped from thin metal sheets. These stampings are then shaped so that contact tabs protrude through openings in custom designed plastic shells. Although this approach typically yields a higher quality product, tooling costs can be high for both the plastic shells and the stampings since virtually every automobile model requires a unique distribution system. At least some of this uniqueness aspect is driven by the proliferation of fuse and relay packages. A distribution product must be able to accommodate the fuse and relay components selected by the manufacturer.
Another approach centered around the use of flexible circuit board technology, or “flex circuits.” Flex circuits are constructed by depositing conductive material between two flexible insulating layers. Although the unique distribution requirements of each vehicle model would require unique flex circuits for each application, tooling costs are much lower than the metal stamping/custom plastic housing approach described previously. The principal disadvantage of the flex circuit approach is that the conductive layers are very thin, and the high current densities required in vehicle power distribution can lead to overheating and possible eventual failure.
In summary, existing modular power distribution centers are hard wired and do not allow for modular integration of electronics. Consequently, a need arises for a vehicle electric power distribution system that can be customized for a particular vehicle with relative ease, that avoids high tooling costs for custom designed components, that is reliable in a high current environment, that will accommodate a wide range of fuse and relay packages, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
The present invention relates to a modular power distribution center that utilizes connectors for interconnectivity, as opposed to hard wiring and allows for the integration of electronics modules onto printed circuit board architecture. Broadly, the power distribution center can include:
a modular housing having at least one receptacle for engaging a device and at least one socket for I/O connections;
at least one printed circuit board within the modular housing which can comprise at least one I/O connection which corresponds to at least one socket for I/O connections of the modular housing, the printed circuit board being electrically connected to at least one primary buss or the at least one primary buss being integrated into the printed circuit board; and
the at least one primary buss having a primary conductive strip, a terminal connected to the primary conductive strip and at least one device interface buss connected to the primary conductive strip, wherein connections to the at least one device interface buss correspond with the at least one receptacle of the modular housing.
The modular housing of the power distribution center can include any material that will provide structural integrity for the assembly such as, for example, side walls of plastic, extruded aluminum, etc.; an upper face and a lower face wherein either face can include at least one plate having a grid of receptacle portions defined through the face of the at least one plate, wherein the receptacle portions correspond to connections of the device interface buss; and the other face can include at least one connector module, or is adapted to connect to a remote module, and having at least one socket that corresponds to the I/O connections of the printed circuit board. All connection can be made through either one or both faces. The receptacle portions can be configured to receive in engaging fashion electrical devices including, but not limited to: fuses, relays, resistors, diodes, and switches. The at least one printed circuit board of the modular power distribution center can include a single printed circuit board or two boards. When two printed circuit boards are present, the printed circuit board are electrically coupled to each other, either board can include or provide power distribution from the at least one primary buss, and either can provide electrical connections to the at least one I/O connection.
A method for distributing electrical power in a vehicle is disclosed which includes at least one device interface buss having device connections, at least one printed circuit board, and a modular housing which provides a degree of adjustability that is unavailable in prior power distribution centers. The method for distributing electrical power in a vehicle comprises the steps of:
providing a power buss having a positive battery terminal and at least one device interface buss having device connections;
connecting the power buss to at least one printed circuit board, wherein the at least one printed circuit board has at least one I/O connection; and
enclosing the printed circuit board within a housing comprising at least one modular plate having a grid of receptacle portions corresponding to the device connections of the at least one device interface buss and at least one socket corresponding to the at least one I/O connection of the printed circuit board.
In one embodiment, the power buss includes a primary buss strip having a length along a first direction selected to provide electrical connections to at least the portion of the housing corresponding to the connections of the electrical devices; connecting the battery positive terminal to the primary buss strip or to the printed circuit board; and connecting at least one device interface buss to a portion of the primary buss strip, wherein the at least one device interface buss has a length along a second direction and is connected to a portion of the primary buss strip to provide connections to the electrical devices.
Enclosing the circuit board within the housing may further include providing a modular upper plate and a modular lower plate as a repeatable unit. The number of the modular upper plates corresponds to the electrical device connections to the device interface buss and the device connections to the power distribution center. The number of the modular lower plates corresponds to the I/O connections of the printed circuit board and the I/O connections to the power distribution center.
The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. While the present invention is embodied in hardware, alternate equivalent embodiments may be employed. Those skilled in the art should realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:
The present invention includes a modular power distribution center that provides electrical connections of the device interface buss through mechanical connectors and also provides for integration of the electronic modules onto printed circuit board architectures.
Referring to
The device interface buss 13 is configured for mechanical connection to the primary strip 12.
The mechanical connection of the device interface buss 13 and the positive battery terminal 11 to the primary strip 12 can be provided by a deformation joint, such as an integral rivet formed between the primary strip 12 and the device interface buss 13 or the positive battery terminal 11. The connection of the device interface buss 13 and the positive battery terminal 11 to the primary strip 12 can be accomplished by a system know in the art as TOG-L-LOC (a trademark of BTM Corp. of Marysville, Mich.)
One example of an integral rivet 15 is shown in
The formation of the integral rivet 15 between the primary strip 12 and the device interface buss 13 or positive battery terminal 11 by a punch and die tool, as shown in
In one embodiment the network of conductive paths comprises two printed circuit boards 23, 24 which are electrically connected together (see
Referring to
When two printed circuit boards 23, 24 are used, the primary buss distributes power to the upper printed circuit board 23 and electrical connections between the electrical devices and electrical systems, i.e. connections between fuses and I/O connections, are provided by a lower printed circuit board 24, where the lower printed circuit board 24 and the upper circuit board 23 are connected together electrically. The upper printed circuit board 23 and the lower printed circuit board 24 may be mechanically connected and separated by a spacer 25.
With either of the two embodiments disclosed, the first being the use of two printed circuit boards 23, 24 and the second being the use of a single printed circuit board 21A, bussing of power can be provided primarily through a series of stamped copper buss bars or power can be routed only through the printed circuit boards. There is no limitation for each embodiment as to how the power is routed.
However, the two embodiments have advantages which differ. For example, with the first embodiment, the buss bars and fork terminals are connected with a mechanical joint, such as Tog-L-Loc, using dedicated tooling; and, battery power buss bars are connected to the main buss bars with a resistance weld. With the second embodiment, mechanical fastening of buss bars is not required.
During assembly, with the first embodiment, mechanical joints (e.g. Tog-L-Loc), resistance welds, and soldering to the printed circuit board and interconnect pins 52 can be time consuming and difficult. With the second embodiment, the printed circuit board assembly 21B does not require interconnect pins and associated soldering, or any manufacturing processes associated with buss bars.
With the first embodiment, pass through terminals are not used. Typical routing includes input of battery power from a stud or connector, distributed through a buss bar, through the plug-in device (fuse or relay), through a fork terminal to the upper printed circuit board 23, upper printed circuit board trace to an interconnect pin, down through the interconnect pin 52, through a trace on the lower printed circuit board 24 to the output connector blade. With the second embodiment, pass through terminals are used. Typical routing includes input of battery power through a printed circuit board mounted stud, through a printed circuit board trace to a fork terminal, through the plug-in device (fuse of relay), and down through the pass through terminal to the output connector. In some applications the pass through terminal may be mechanically and/or electrically connected to the PCB in order to send current to another device or pin. An electrical connection to the PCB can be by, but not limited to, soldering, mechanical contact with another terminal or mechanical contact with the PCB conductive material. In another application where the pass through terminal may be used to assist in assembly or function as a terminal, the pass through terminal may be physically mounted to and only contact the non-conductive material of the PCB.
With the first embodiment which utilizes two printed circuit boards 23, 24, Tyco 40-way connectors or any other connectors which satisfy the requirements for the outputs in the entire Power Distribution Center design can be used. The second embodiment can use any connector which satisfies the requirements for the outputs in the entire Power Distribution Center design. However, because the second embodiment has only one printed circuit board 21A, pass through terminals can be used. To obtain the benefit obtained with the use of pass through terminals, the connector used should have the same pitch as the top plate.
With the first embodiment, interconnect pins 52 are required between the printed circuit boards 23, 24 and, therefore, assembly and soldering can be difficult. With the second embodiment interconnect pins 52 are not required and assembly and manufacture is simplified.
With the first embodiment, the printed circuit board assembly uses fork terminals, interconnect terminals, and connector blade terminals. With the second embodiment, the printed circuit board assembly uses fork terminals and connector blade terminals. When a pass through terminal is used, the corresponding fork terminal and connector blades terminals are not used.
If the height of the assemblage is important, the second embodiment should be considered because it has only one printed circuit board 21A and does not use interconnecting pins 52, the absence of which contributes to a reduction of height.
In some applications the PCB can be connected to electronic devices which may or may not be surface mounted to the PCB. These devices can provide many functions that can include, but not limited to the switching of power, protection of devices, diagnostic capability and/or network transmissions over a bus to another module or switch where the network utilized can be, but is not limited to CAN, LIN, BSS, etc. Any of these components can be mounted on either PCB of the first embodiment and/or on either side of the PCB of the first embodiment, or they can be mounted on either side of both sides of the PCB of the second embodiment. In another embodiment, see
In another embodiment, see
A modular housing assemblage encases the power buss 10 and the printed circuit boards 23, 24; or the single printed circuit board 21A shown in
The plates 26 have dimensions which allow them to be used as repeatable units, where the width and the length of the upper face 27 can be adjusted by adding or removing the plates 26 in reversible interlocking fashion to correspond to the required electrical devices and electrical system connector layout, as depicted in
The edges of each plate 26 further include interlocking tabs 29, having a triangular geometry, for engaging interlocking tabs 29 on an adjacent plate 26 in reversible interlocking engagement. The interlocking tabs 29 may also be referred to as interlocking dovetails. It is noted that although the interlocking tabs 29 are shown as having a triangular geometry, other geometries are within the scope of the present invention.
Referring to
Referring to
The modular power distribution center 200 and method for distributing electrical power advantageously allows for the use of mechanical connectors which eliminates the need for heavy gauge wire routing. The present invention further provides an easily adjustable system of modular device bussing (also referred to as primary bussing), which eliminates the need for customized buss bars. Additionally, the modular plates 26 and connectors 30A, 30B that provide the upper and lower faces 27, 29 of the housing in combination with the adjustability of the primary buss 10 provides a flexible platform that improves efficiency in electrical system connector and device placement. The plastic or metal, such as aluminum sidewalls advantageously provide continuous mounting surfaces for the upper and lower faces of the modular housing as well as the printed circuit board or boards encased within the housing. Further, the integration of printed circuit boards allows for adjustments in the routing of electrical devices and connecting structures without requiring substantial changes in tooling.
While there has been described herein the principles of the invention, it is to be clearly understood to those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended, by the appended claims, to cover all modifications of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/825,020, filed Sep. 8, 2006.
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